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Secretary of War pete hegseth Issued a “clarification” after widespread criticism asked for Supporters on the news that America will host it Qatari air force Facility on American soil.
Speaking alongside Qatar’s Defense Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Hegseth announced Friday, “Today, we are announcing a letter of approval in the construction of a Qatari Amiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.”
Conservative critics immediately reacted to this announcement, Most notably Laura LoomerWhich has the ear of President Donald Trump, prompting Hegseth to post an “important clarification.” on x Later in the day.
“America military Qatar has a long-standing partnership with Qatar, including cooperation with the F-15QA aircraft announced today. However, to be clear, Qatar will not have any base of its own in the United States – nor anything resembling a base. We control the existing base, as we do with all partners,” he wrote.
Despite clarification, far-right activists loomer He reiterated his comments that allowing Hamas affiliates to train on American soil is a threat to national security.
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“Nobody wants Hamas funders in the United States to be trained to fly fighter planes on American soil. A jihadist in a suit is still a jihadist. This is a threat to our national security.” Loomer replied For Hegseth’s follow-up post.
Earlier Friday, Loomer called the plan “disgusting.”
“I don’t think I’ll be voting in 2026. I can’t in good conscience make any excuse for harboring jihadists. That’s where I draw the line,” she wrote,
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and the Idaho Freedom Foundation also condemned the plan.
Bannon said, “No foreign power should ever have a military base on America’s sacred soil.” newsweek,
MAGA-Friendly Idaho Freedom Foundation Said On
Meanwhile, the Qatari Embassy confirmed that the training facility is part of a 10-year commitment to enhance interoperability between the air forces of the two countries. The embassy also said the project would create American jobs and support broader US-Qatari military cooperation.
The establishment of the facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base, home of the 366th Fighter Wing, follows a precedent of hosting foreign military personnel for training. Similar arrangements have been made with other allies such as Singapore, which has trained its pilots at the base since 1998.
The facility is expected to accommodate 12 Qatari F-15 jets and approximately 300 personnel.
In September, Trump signed an order promising to defend the US if Qatar was attacked and urging Israel’s leader to apologize for the deadly attack on a Qatari soldier.
Earlier this year, Qatar’s royal family gave Trump a $400 million jet, which they said would eventually go to his presidential library.